Machine for accumulating and transferring articles

ABSTRACT

Packages advanced in edge-to-edge relation from a continuous motion packager are engaged by a series of transfer devices which increase the spacing between the packages while delivering the packages to sets of upper and lower accumulating holders for collection into stacks. The stacks thereafter are dropped from the accumulating holders into a series of transfer holders which subsequently are spread apart to match the pitch of packagereceiving buckets on a continuous motion conveyor for delivering the stacks to an automatic cartoner. While being spread apart, the transfer holders are moved alongside the conveyor at a speed equal to that of the conveyor and, during such movement, the stacks are shifted out of the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Robert E. Renner;

Stanley D. Premo, both of Rockford, Ill. [21] AppLNo. 9,136 [22] Filed Feb. 6, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] Assignee Riegel Paper Corporation New York, N.Y.

[54] MACHINE FOR ACCUMULATING AND TRANSFERRING ARTICLES 35 Claims, 24 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 209/72, 53/160, 53/164, 198/27, 198/32,214/6 FS [51] Int. Cl B07c 1/04 [50] Field of Search 209/72; 198/20, 27, 32, 35; 214/6 FS; 53/53, 26,159,160, 164,186,188, 249

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,948,337 8/1960 Wolter 198/27 X 3,300,946 1/1967 Martin..... 3,410,052 ll/1968 Johnson ABSTRACT: Packages advanced in edge-to-edge relation from a continuous motion packager are engaged by a series of transfer devices which increase the spacing between the packages while delivering the packages to sets of upper and lower accumulating holders for collection into stacks. The stacks thereafter are dropped from the accumulating holders into a series of transfer holders which subsequently are spread apart to match the pitch of package-receiving buckets on a continuous motion conveyor for delivering the stacks to an automatic cartoner. While being spread apart, the transfer holders are moved alongside the conveyor at a speed equal to that of the conveyor and, during such movement, the stacks are shifted out of the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets.

PATENTED JAN] 1 m2 SHEET DlUF 76 PATENIEB A 1 2 SHEET 0 0F 16 PATENTEI] JAN] 1 1972 SHEET USUF 16 PATENIED mu 1 1972 SHEET USUF 16 PMENIEU JAN] 1 1972 SHEET lDUF 16 1 e xx Z @W M N i 9 W a 1/ r mm w d PATENTED JAN! 1 1972 SHEET 120F 16 PATENTEU JAN} 1 1972 SHEET 13G? 16 0 mm w; w M V Z mm fl PATENTED JAN] 1 i972 SHEET 1M]? 16 PATENIED JAN? 1 1972 sum 18 BF 16 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a machine for receiving articles delivered successively into an accumulating station, for collecting the articles into groups each containing a predetermined number of articles, and for transferring the groups of articles out of the accumulating station for delivery to further operating stations. For example, the articles may be packages which are delivered into the accumulating station from an automatic packager and which, after being accumulated into groups, are transferred from the accumulating station to a conveyor operable to deliver the packages to an automatic cartoner for placing the groups of packages into display or shipping cartons. A machine which performs these general functions is disclosed in Livingston, U.S. Fat. N 0. 3,370,549.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new and comparatively simple machine of the above character operable to receive and accumulate articles, such as packages, delivered successively into the accumulating station in a continuous and uninterrupted manner and to transfer the accumulated groups of articles from the accumulating station to a conveyor which is moved past the station with a continuous and uninterrupted motion.

A further object is to achieve the foregoing through the provision of novel accumulating apparatus which is adapted to receive and handle the individual articles being delivered successively and continuously to the accumulating station and to collect the articles into groups while at the same time delivering preceding groups of articles to the conveyor in a manner compatible with the continuous motion of the conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved transfer apparatus which is particularly well-suited for use with a continuous motion packager and which moves into positive engagement with each package being delivered from the packager, turns the package to a different position while transferring the package to the accumulating station, and is returned to pick up the next succeeding package without interfering with or interrupting the continuous advance of such package from the packager.

Still another object is to provide a transfer apparatus operable to simultaneously transfer a series of side-by-side packages from the packager to the accumulating station and to increase the spacing between the packages during the transfer so as to facilitate accumulation of the packages in the accumulating station.

A more detailed object ofthe invention is to provide a novel member which normally backs the packages when the latter are engaged by the transfer apparatus and which is selectively operable to deflect inferior packages away from the accumulating machine.

A further object is to provide in the accumulating station a series of accumulating holders for catching the packages released from the transfer apparatus and for collecting the packages into stacks, the accumulating holders being uniquely arranged not only to reduce the distance through which the packages fall continuously in free flight to form the stacks, thus promoting more even stacking, but also to hold the stacks sufficiently long to pennit the delivery of preceding stacks from the accumulating station to the conveyor.

An important object of the invention is to provide new and improved transfer holders which are initially spaced closely together to receive a series of package stacks from the accumulating holders and then are automatically spread and spaced further apart with a pitch which matches the pitch of packagereceiving buckets on the conveyor so that the packages may be subsequently transferred from the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets.

Another object is to automatically move the transfer holders, together with transfer mechanism for shifting the packages from the holders, alongside the path of the conveyor at a speed equal to that of the conveyor to enable shifting of the packages from the transfer holders to the conveyor buckets as the latter are advanced with a continuous motion.

The invention also resides in the novel and relatively simple construction of various ones of the mechanisms which perform the foregoing operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing, somewhat schematically, a new and improved machine embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary package adapted to be handled by the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view primarily showing the transfer holders and the transfer mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a drive train for actuating the primary operating mechanisms of the machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the transfer apparatus and accumulating holders shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and showing the transfer apparatus in a moved position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the path of movement followed by the transfer apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross section, on a reduced scale, taken substantially along the line l0l0 of FIG. 5.

FIG. I] is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line I 1 l l of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken vertically through the machine shown in FIG. I and primarily showing the transfer holders and the transfer mechanism for shifting the packages from the holders to the conveyor buckets.

FIG. 13 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, FIG. 12.

FIGS. l4, l5 and 16 are FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view of part of the transfer holders shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary front elevation of the transfer holders shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front elevation of the transfer holders and of the drive mechanism for shifting the transfer holders and the transfer mechanism alongside the conveyor.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 2020 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the action of the drive mechanism in moving the transfer holders alongside the conveyor.

FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 are schematic plan views diagrammatically showing three machines of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 delivering packages to a single conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT INDEX Col. N

Introduction and exemplary environment of the invention The Invention in General 3 The Transfer Degiegs.

of parts shown in perspective views of parts shown in Introduction And Exemplary Environment Of The Invention As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a machine 30 (FIG. 1) for receiving articles such as packages 31 advanced into an accumulating station, for collecting the packages into stacks or groups each containing a predetermined number of packages, and for transferring the stacks to a conveyor 33 having packagereceiving buckets 34 spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch. The conveyor, in turn, carries the stacks of packages to an automatic cartoner (not shown) which operates in a well-known manner to insert the stacks into cartons, the cartoner in this instance placing one stack in each carton.

Herein, each package 31 is generally rectangular in shape (FIG. 2), is formed from a metal foil and includes two sealed compartments each filled with an article such as a denturecleansing tablet 35. The packages are formed, filled and sealed by a conventional packager (not shown) and are advanced downwardly from the packager and toward the machine 30 with a continuous and uninterrupted motion and along a generally upright path. The packages emerge from the packager in the form of a single web 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and are connected end to end and edge to edge, there herein being six packages spanning the width of the web. As the web advances toward the machine, five rotary knives 37 (FIG. 1) separate the web into six rows of packages by cutting between adjacent side edges of the packages and thereafter a rotary cutter 39 coacting with an anvil 40 severs the leading package from each row.

The Invention In General Generally stated, the invention contemplates a new and improved machine 30 which is operable to receive the packages 31 delivered continuously from the packager and to accumulate the packages into the stacks while at the same time transferring previously accumulated stacks of packages to the conveyor 33, the latter being moved rapidly alongside the machine 30 with continuous motion as opposed to intermittent or step-by-step motion and the transfer being effected as the conveyor is moving. Thus, continuously advancing individual packages 31 are collected into stacks and then are transferred to the continuously moving conveyor for subsequent insertion into cartons by the cartoner, which operates continuously and at high speeds.

The foregoing ends are achieved generally through the provision of a series of side-by-side transfer devices 41 (FIG. 1) which engage successive packages 31 advanced from the packager, turn the packages into generally horizontal positions, and release the packages to sets of side-by-side accumulating holders 43 and 44. The packages are collected in stacks in the accumulating holders and, when a predetermined number of packages are in the stacks, the latter are dropped into a series of side-by-side transfer holders 45. Initially closely spaced relative to one another to receive the stacks from the accumulating holders 43 and 44 (see FIG. 1), the transfer holders 45, after being filled, are spread apart (see FIG. 3) until the spacing between the transfer holders matches the spacing between the conveyor buckets 34. At the same time, the transfer holders are moved alongside the conveyor 33 at a speed equal to that of the buckets 34 and, during such movement, the package stacks are shifted from the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets. While the transfer holders are moving alongside the conveyor, the transfer devices 41 and accumulating holders 43 and 44 form and collect additional stacks of packages, and these are subsequently dropped into the transfer holders upon the latter completing a return stroke reversely along the conveyor to a position beneath the accumulating holders.

The Transfer Devices a. Transferring The Packages As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 9, six transfer devices 41 are disposed side by side in the accumulating station and are operable to engage the packages 31 at a pickup point (see FIG. 1) as the packages are severed from the web 36 by the rotary cutter 39. Thereafter, the transfer devices swing the engaged packages downwardly and laterally away from the web through an angle of approximately so as to turn the initially upright packages into horizontal positions while lowering the packages to a discharge point located above the accumulating holders 43 (see FIG. 6). The packages then are released by the transfer devices and fall into the holders whereupon the transfer devices are returned upwardly to pick up the succeeding six packages cut from the web.

In accordance with the invention, the transfer devices 41 are advanced toward and into positive engagement with the leading packages 31 on the web 36 and then are retracted away from the web, the retraction preferably but not necessarily taking place as the transfer devices are swung downwardly to transfer the packages. For these purposes, each transfer device is advanced toward the web from a starting point SP (see the diagram of FIG. 8) in proximity to the package being cut from the web and moves into engagement with such package along a relatively short and generally horizontal leg Ll of a substantially triangular path. After engaging and picking up the package, the transfer device is swung downwardly toward the accumulating holders 43 and, during such swinging, is retracted away from the web so as to move along a second and generally upright leg 1.2 of the triangular path. Upon release of the package at the discharge point, the transfer device is swung back upwardly and returns to the starting point SP along a third leg L3 of the path, the third or return leg L3 being spaced a considerable distance away from the path of the web. In this way, gripping engagement of the transfer devices with the packages is insured, the packages are transferred in a manner compatible with their continuous advance from the packager, and the transfer devices are kept retracted away from the downwardly advancing web during their upward swinging so as to avoid interfering with the movement of the web.

More specifically, each transfer device 41 includes a suction cup 46 (see FIG. 7) operable to grip the packages 31 and connected by a flexible hose 47 to a manifold 49 (FIG. 1) which communicates with a vacuum source (not shown) through a line 50. Suction is applied automatically to the cups as the latter are moved into engagement with the packages and then is released when the packages are positioned horizontally to drop into the accumulating holders 43. As the suction is cut off, a blast of air is shot into the manifold through a supply line 51 and flows through the hoses 47 to blow the packages off of the suction cups and thus insure immediate release of the packages.

Each suction cup 46 is carried on one end portion of an arm 53 (FIG. 7) whose other end portion is mounted to turn with an elongated bar 54 of rectangular cross section extending parallel to the web 36 and transversely of the direction of advance of the web. The extreme end portions of the bar are round and are joumaled in bearings 55 (see FIG. 5) supported in the outer end portions of cranks 56 which are fast on the ends of a rock shaft 57 paralleling the bar, the rock shaft being joumaled at its ends in bearings 59 mounted on the stationary support or frame 60 of the machine 30. It should be realized that the frame of the overall machine is formed by several interconnected frame members, all of which remain stationary relative to one another during operation of the machine. For

convenience and brevity, most of the various stationary frame members simply will be referred to as the "frame" and will be indicated by the reference numeral 60.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, an arm or crank 61 is clamped fast at its inner end to the right-hand end of the bar 54 and rotatably receives at its outer end a short axle 63 carrying a roller 64. The latter is supported to ride back and forth in a generally horizontal direction within a track 65 anchored to a slide 66 which is guided for up and down movement on a pair of rods 67 upstanding from the frame 60. As the slide is shifted downwardly and upwardly on the rods, the crank 61 and the bar 54 are rocked first counterclockwise and then clockwise between the positions shown in dotted and full lines in FIG. 6. As the bar is rocked, the transfer devices 41 are swung downwardly and upwardly between the package pickup position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 and the package release or discharge position shown in full.

To shift the slide 66 upwardly and downwardly, a bellcrank 69 (FIG. 7) pivoted on the frame 60 at 70 is connected to the slide by a line 71 and is adapted to be rocked upwardly and downwardly by means of a link 73 connected to the upper end of a lever 74 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a fixed rod 75 supported on the frame. A roller follower 76 is carried on the lower end of the lever and rides within a track 77 formed in the side of a cam 79 fast on a power-rotated shaft 80. Rotation of the cam causes rocking of the lever and the bellcrank first in one direction and then the other to shift the slide upwardly and downwardly on the rods 67.

The slide 66 is shifted upwardly and downwardly and effects swinging of the transfer devices 41 in timed relation with the advance of the packages 31 from the packager and, for this purpose, a single electric motor 81 is used to drive the packager and the cam shaft 80 in synchronism. As shown in FIG. 4, the motor is connected to a drive shaft 83 for the packager through a speed reducer 84 and is connected to the cam shaft 80 through a belt 85, a speed reducer 86 and a chain 87. Accordingly, swinging of the transfer devices by the cam 79 is correlated with the advance of the packages by the packager and thus the transfer devices are stationed adjacent the leading end of the web 36 as each group of packages is cut from the web.

As mentioned previously, the transfer devices 41 are advanced toward the web 36 from the starting point SP so as to place the suction cups 46 into engagement with the packages 31 and then are retracted away from the web as an incident to being swung downwardly. To achieve these ends, a crank 89 (FIG. 7) is anchored to the rock shaft 57 alongside the crank 56 and is connected by a link 90 to a lever 91 pivoted on the rod 75 and carrying a roller follower 93 which rides within a track 94 formed in the side of a second cam 95 on the cam shaft 80. As the cam 95 is rotated, the lever 91, the link 90 and the crank 89 cause the rock shaft 57 to turn first in one direction and then the other through a slight angular distance within its supporting bearings 59. Through the crank 56, the rock shaft advances the rectangular bar 54 and the transfer devices 41 toward the packages upon being rocked counterclockwise (F IG. 7) and retracts the bar and the transfer devices away from the web when rocked reversely, the bar moving between the full and dotted line positions shown in FIG. 6. As the bar is shifted toward and away from the web, the roller 64 rides back and forth within the track 65 to permit such shifting relative to the slide 66 while keeping the latter operably connected to the bar for the purpose of effecting the up and down swinging of the transfer devices.

To explain the operation of the transfer devices 41 as described thus far, let it be assumed that each transfer device initially is stationed in proximity to its upper pickup position and is retracted away from the web 36 so as to be positioned as indicated by the dash-dot illustration shown in FIG. 6, such positioning corresponding to the position of the transfer device when at the starting point SP in the diagram of FIG. 8. As the camshaft 80 turns through an initial of rotation, the cam 79 shifts the slide 66 upwardly to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device to rock clockwise (FIG. 7) within the bearings 55 in the cranks 66. At the same time, the cam 95 rocks the rock shaft 57 counterclockwise to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device 41 to turn counterclockwise about the axis of the rock shaft, the outer end of the crank 61 pivoting about the axle 63 and moving toward the web 36 within the track 65 during such turning. As a result of the motion produced by both cams acting together, the transfer device is moved toward the web 36 from the starting point SP (FIG. 8) and travels along a portion a of the first leg Ll of the triangular path.

After the camshaft has been rotated through its initial 15, the cam 79 causes the upward movement of the slide 66 to dwell and, for the next 45 of camshaft rotation, the cam 95 acts alone and continues to turn the rock shaft 57 counterclockwise. The result is to move the transfer device 41 toward the web along a portion b (FIG. 8) of the first leg L1 of the triangular path. Thus, the suction cup 46 is moved into positive face-to-face engagement with the leading package 31 on the web 36 along a generally horizontal but slightly upwardly curved approach path and, with the suction turned on, securely grips the package as shown in FIG. 7 just prior to the package being severed from the web.

During the next of rotation of the camshaft 80, the cam 79 shifts the slide 66 downwardly to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device 41 to turn counterclockwise (FIG. 7) within the supporting bearings 55 in the cranks 56 so as to swing the transfer device and the engaged package 31 downwardly toward the accumulating holders 43 while turning the package toward a horizontal position as shown in full in FIG. 6. Concurrently, the cam turns the rock shaft 57 clockwise thus causing the bar 54 and the transfer device 41 to be retracted away from the path of the web 36 and to recede away from an arc struck about the axis of the bar and extending through the suction cup 46 when the latter first engages the package. Accordingly, during the first 90 of camshaft rotation following engagement of the package, the cams 79 and 95 act in concert to cause the transfer device to move downwardly along the second leg L2 (FIG. 8) of the triangular path. The initial path taken by the suction cup along the leg L2 corresponds closely to the vertical path followed by the downwardly advancing web and therefore the cup and the engaged package can move downwardly in unison as the package is cut from the web and before the package is swung any substantial distance laterally of the web. Thus, the movement of the suction cup is correlated with that of the web during the comparatively short interval during which the cup is in engagement with the package while the latter is still connected to the web. A smooth and trouble-free transfer thus is insured.

As the transfer device 41 reaches the end of the second leg L2 of the triangular path, the cam 95 causes a dwell in the turning motion of the rock shaft 57 and, for the next 90 of rotation of the camshaft 80, the cam 79 acts alone and continues to shift the slide 66 downwardly to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device to turn counterclockwise within the bearings 55 and about the axis of the bar. Accordingly, the transfer device is simply swung downwardly in an arc (represented by the are c in FIG. 8) which curves about the axis of the bar and is moved until the package 31 is located directly above the accumulating holders 43 in a fully horizontal position. Thereafter, the transfer device dwells in a stationary position as the camshaft rotates through 15 additional degrees and, during the dwell, the suction is turned off and a blast of air is shot through the cup 46 to eject the package.

Thereafter and for the next 75 of rotation of the camshaft 80, the cam 95 continues to cause the turning motion of the rock shaft 57 to dwell while the cam 79 acts alone and causes the slide 66 to shift upwardly once again. The transfer device 41 thus swings upwardly about the axis of the bar 54 and, for the first 60 of such 75 of camshaft rotation, simply retraces the same are 0 (FIG. 8) followed during the terminal portion of the downward stroke. For the remaining 15 of the 75 of camshaft rotation during which the cam 79 acts alone, the 

1. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles advanced continuously in closely spaced side-by-side relation along an upright path into an accumulating station, the combination of, a support, a series of side-by-side transfer devices mounted on said support and operable to engage successive leading articles advanced along said path, turn the articles through an angle of approximately 90* to horizontal positions, and release the articles to fall downwardly, means for moving said transfer devices away from one another as the articles are turned thereby to increase the spacing between the articles, upper and lower accumulating holders mounted on said support beneath said transfer devices in vertical alignment with one another and each having a series of side-by-side compartments, upper and lower gates mounted on said support and movable between positions opening and closing the lower ends of said upper and lower holders, respectively, an upper gate actuator timed to hold said upper gate closed until a predetermined number of articles released by said transfer devices are caught and collected in a stack in the compartments of said upper holder and then to open the upper gate to allow the stacks to drop into the compartments of said lower holder, a lower gate actuator timed to hold said lower gate closed as said upper gate is opened whereby the dropped stacks are caught in the compartments of the lower holder, said actuators being timed to hold said upper gate open and said lower gate closed until a predetermined additional number of articles placed into each compartment of said upper holder fall through such compartments and collect on top of the stacks in said lower holder, said lower actuator thereafter opening said lower gate and said upper actuator closing said upper gate to allow the stacks to drop from said lower holder and to position said upper gate to catch succeeding articles placed in said upper holder, a series of side-by-side transfer holders, a carriage mounting said transfer holders on said support for movement from loading positions beneath the compartments of said lower accumulating holder in vertical alignment therewith and unloading positions spaced horizontally from said loading positions, said transfer holders being disposed in said loading positions and being spaced closely together as said lower gate is opened thereby to catch the stacks of articles dropped from said lower accumulating holder, an elongated conveyor having articlereceiving buckets spaced apart with a predetermined pitch and movable continuously and at a predetermined speed along a path extending alongside the path followed by said transfer holders as the latter are moved to said unloading positions, mechanism operable after the stacks have dropped into said transfer holders to spread the transfer holders apart to increase the spacing therebetween to a pitch substantially equal to the pitch of said conveyor buckets, mechanism operable after the stacks have dropped into said transfer holders to shift the transfer holders toward said unloading positions at a speed which matches to speed of said buckets, and means movable with said carriage and operable after the speed of the transfer holders has been matched to the speed of the buckets to shift the stacks of articles out of the transfer holders and into the buckets.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including mechanism for moving said transfer devices along a substantially triangular path to engage and release said articles, said transfer device moving along a first leg of said triangular path toWard said articles to engage the latter, moving downwardly along a second leg of said triangular path to transfer and turn the engaged articles, and returning upwardly preparatory to engaging succeeding articles along a third leg of said triangular path spaced further away than said second leg from the upright path followed by the articles.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a backing member normally positioned on the side of said upright path opposite said transfer devices whereby articles advancing along such path are disposed between the transfer devices and the backing member and are backed by the latter upon being engaged by the transfer devices, and means for selectively moving said backing member to a position extending across said upright path to deflect inferior articles away from the transfer devices whereby the latter may continue to operate but without transferring the inferior articles to said upper accumulating holders.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including carriers on said carriage each supporting a pair of transfer holders, and said spreading mechanism including means for spreading the carriers away from one another to increase the spacing between the transfer holders.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the transfer holders of each pair are mounted on their respective carrier for movement toward and away from one another, and said spreading mechanism including means for spreading the transfer holders on the carriers to increase the spacing between the transfer holders.
 6. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles advanced continuously along an upright path into an accumulating station, the combination of, a support, a transfer device mounted on said support in said accumulating station and operable to engage each successive article advanced along said path, turn the article through an angle of approximately 90* to a horizontal position, and release the article to fall downwardly, an accumulating holder disposed beneath the point where said article is released by said transfer device whereby said article drops into said accumulating holder, a gate movable between positions opening and closing the bottom of said accumulating holder, a gate actuator timed to hold said gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in a stack in said accumulating holder and then to open the gate to allow the stack to fall from the accumulating holder, a transfer holder, a carriage mounting said transfer holder on said support for movement from a loading position beneath said accumulator holder in vertical alignment therewith and an unloading position spaced horizontally from said loading position, said transfer holder being disposed in said loading position as said gate is opened thereby to catch the stack of articles dropped from said accumulating holder, an elongated conveyor having an article-receiving bucket movable continuously and at a predetermined speed along a path extending alongside the path followed by said transfer holder as the latter is moved toward said unloading position, mechanism operable after opening of said gate to move said carriage and said transfer holder along said support in a direction to shift said transfer holder from said loading position to said unloading position and at a speed which matches the speed of said bucket, and means movable with said carriage and operable after the speed of the transfer holder has been matched to the speed of the bucket to shift the stack of articles out of the transfer holder and into the bucket.
 7. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles advanced in side-by-side relation along a predetermined path into an accumulating station, the combination of, a support, a series of side-by-side transfer devices mounted on said support to engage successive leading articles advanced along said path, and to swing the articles laterally of the path and drop the articles, an accumulating holder disposed beneath the point where the articles are released by the transfer devices and having a series of side-by-side compartments for catching the articles, a gate movable between positions opening and closing the bottom of said accumulating holder, a gate actuator timed to hold said gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in stacks in said compartments and then to open the gate to allow the stacks to fall from the accumulating holder, a series of side-by-side transfer holders disposed on said support beneath said accumulating holder to receive the stacks of articles, an elongated conveyor having article-receiving buckets disposed alongside said transfer holders and spaced apart with a predetermined pitch, means mounting said transfer holders on said support for movement between closely spaced positions in which the transfer holders are spaced apart a distance correlated with the spacing between the compartments of said accumulating holder, and spread positions in which said transfer holders are spaced apart a distance correlated with the spacing of said conveyor buckets, means for keeping said transfer holders in said closely spaced positions as said gate is opened and for moving said transfer holders to said spread positions after the articles have dropped from said accumulating holder into said transfer holders, and mechanism operable thereafter to shift said articles out of said transfer holders and into said conveyor buckets.
 8. In apparatus for engaging successive articles advanced continuously and in upright positions along an upright path into a pickup station and for transferring the articles to a discharge station spaced vertically and laterally from said pickup station while turning the articles into generally horizontal positions, the combination of, a support, a transfer device, means mounting said transfer device on said support for swinging movement vertically and laterally of said path between said pickup and discharge stations about first and second axes paralleling said path and extending transversely of the direction in which the articles are advanced along the path, said transfer device being operable to engage an article in said pickup station and to release the article in said discharge station, mechanism operable when said transfer device is in proximity to said pickup station to advance the transfer device from a starting point along a first leg of a generally triangular path and into engagement with an article being advanced into said pickup station and then operable to swing the transfer device from said pickup station toward said discharge station along a second leg of said triangular path, said mechanism being operable after release of the engaged article in said discharge station to return said transfer device toward said starting point along a third leg of said triangular path spaced further away than said second leg from said upright path whereby the transfer device is moved from said starting point into positive engagement with each article advancing into said pickup station and subsequently is returned to said starting point while retracted away from said upright path so as to clear the succeeding article being advanced into said pickup station.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said mounting means comprise a rock shaft mounted to turn back and forth on said support about said first axis, a crank anchored to said rock shaft and rotatably journaling said transfer device to swing about said second axis, a slide mounted for up and down vertical movement on said support, and an arm anchored at one end to said transfer device, the other end of said arm being supported on said slide to move vertically therewith, being supported to pivot relative to the slide about an axis paralleling said first and second axes, and being guided for back and forth generally horizontal movement relative to the slide.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which additional transfer devices are mounted on said support in similar fashion to said one transfer deVice and are disposed in side-by-side relation to simultaneously transfer a series of articles between said stations, and further including means for automatically moving said transfer devices away from one another to increase the spacing therebetween as an incident to swinging of the transfer devices from said pickup station to said discharge station.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including a backing member disposed in said pickup station and normally positioned on the side of said upright path opposite said transfer device whereby each article advancing into the pickup station is disposed between the transfer device and the backing member and is backed by the latter upon being engaged by the transfer device, and means for selectively moving said backing member to a position extending across said upright path to deflect inferior articles advancing into said pickup station away from said transfer device whereby the latter may continue to operate and move along said triangular path but without transferring the inferior articles to the discharge station.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said backing member is shaped to back the articles when positioned normally and to allow the transfer device to complete its full movement along the first leg of said triangular path when positioned to deflect the inferior articles.
 13. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch, a series of holders disposed on said support in side-by-side relation with one another and in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least one of said holders on said support for movement relative to the other holder and lengthwise of said conveyor between closely spaced and spread positions relative to the other bucket, means for loading stacks of articles in said holders when the latter are in closely spaced positions relative to one another, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift the other holder on the support to said spread position to match the pitch of the holders to the pitch of the buckets, and means operable thereafter to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets.
 14. In apparatus for engaging articles advanced into a pickup station along a predetermined path in a series of side-by-side rows and for transferring the articles to a discharge station spaced laterally and vertically of said first station, the combination of, a support, a series of spaced transfer devices mounted on said support to swing upwardly and downwardly between said stations, each of said transfer devices including means operable to engage an article in one of the rows in said pickup station and to release the article in said discharge station, said transfer devices, when in said pickup station, being spaced from one another a distance correlated with the spacing of the articles in the pickup station so as to be in position to engage such articles, mechanism for swinging said transfer devices and the engaged articles from the pickup station to the discharge station, and cam means coacting between said support and said transfer devices for automatically moving the transfer devices away from one another as an incident to such swinging whereby the articles are delivered into said discharge station spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing between the articles when in said pickup station.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said cam means comprise fingers attached to said transfer devices and guided within curved slots formed in said support.
 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 further including means for moving said transfer devices laterally into engagement with the articles in said pickup station before swinging of the transfer devices to said discharge station, said fingers being mounted for endwise sliding within said slots to accommodate lateral Movement of the transfer devices.
 17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which said slots are shaped to move the transfer devices of an adjacent pair through a predetermined distance but in opposite directions and to move the transfer devices outboard of said pair away from the latter and through a whole multiple of said distance and further than said distance.
 18. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 further including a bar journaled in said support and mounting said transfer devices on the support, said transfer devices being attached to said bar to turn with the latter when swinging between said stations and being mounted to slide along said bar and away from one another when the spacing between the transfer devices is increased.
 19. In apparatus for engaging articles advanced in a series of rows into a first station and for transferring the articles to a second station while increasing the spacing between the articles, the combination of, a support, a series of spaced transfer devices mounted on said support for movement back and forth between said stations, each transfer device including means operable to engage an article in one of the rows in said first station and to release the article in said second station, said transfer devices, when in said first station, being spaced from one another a distance correlated with the spacing of the articles in the first station so as to be in position to engage such articles, mechanism for moving said transfer devices and the engaged articles from said first station to said second station, and means operable in timed relation with such movement and after said transfer devices engage the articles to move said transfer devices away from one another to increase the spacing therebetween whereby the articles are delivered into said second station spaced apart a greater distance than the spacing between the articles when in said first station.
 20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 in which said last-mentioned means operate automatically to increase the spacing between said transfer devices as an incident to the movement of the latter from said first station to said second station.
 21. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 in which said last-mentioned means move the transfer devices of an adjacent pair through a predetermined distance but in opposite directions and move the transfer devices outboard of said pair away from the latter through a whole multiple of said predetermined distance and further than said distance.
 22. In apparatus for accumulating articles into groups at an accumulating station preparatory to transferring the articles from the accumulating station, the combination of, a support, upper and lower accumulating holders disposed in said accumulating station and mounted on said support in vertical alignment with one another, an upwardly opening transfer holder mounted on said support beneath said lower accumulating holder and movable between a loading position in vertical alignment with said lower holder and an unloading position spaced horizontally from the lower holder, upper and lower gates mounted on said support and movable between positions opening and closing the lower ends of the upper and lower accumulating holders, respectively, means in said accumulating station operable to continuously place successive articles into said upper accumulating holder, an upper gate actuator timed to hold said upper gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in a stack in said upper holder and then to open the upper gate to allow said stack to drop into said lower accumulating holder, a lower gate actuator timed to hold said lower gate closed as said upper gate is opened whereby the dropped stack is caught in said lower accumulating holder, said actuators being timed to hold said upper gate open and said lower gate closed until a predetermined additional number of articles placed into said upper holder fall through the latter and collect on top of the stack in said lower holder, said lower actuator Thereafter opening said lower gate and said upper actuator closing said upper gate to allow the articles in the lower accumulating holder to drop into said transfer holder and to position the upper gate to catch succeeding articles placed in said upper holder, and mechanism for keeping said transfer holder in said loading position as said lower gate is opened and for thereafter moving said transfer holder to said unloading position and back to said loading position before said lower gate is subsequently reopened with articles in said lower holder.
 23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which a series of upper and lower side-by-side accumulating holders and a series of side-by-side transfer holders are mounted on said support and in which corresponding holders of the three series are aligned vertically with one another when said transfer holders are in said loading position.
 24. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said transfer holder is disposed out of said loading position during at least part of the time articles are being caught by the upper gate of the upper holder.
 25. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said upper gate actuator is timed to close said upper gate immediately after said lower gate actuator opens said lower gate.
 26. In apparatus for accumulating articles into groups at an accumulating station preparatory to transferring the articles from the accumulating station, the combination of, a support, an accumulating holder mounted on said support and having a series of compartments disposed side by side in said accumulating station, a series of upwardly opening transfer holders mounted on said support beneath said compartments and movable between closely spaced positions in vertical alignment with said compartments and spread positions spaced horizontally from the compartments, a gate mounted on said support and movable between positions opening and closing the lower ends of the compartments, means in said accumulating station operable to place successive articles in said compartments, a gate actuator timed to hold said gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in a stack in each compartment and then to open the gate to allow the stacks to drop into said transfer holders, and mechanism for keeping said transfer holders in said closely spaced positions as said gate is opened and for thereafter moving said transfer holders to said spread positions and back to said closely spaced positions before said gate is subsequently opened with articles in said compartments.
 27. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring stacks of articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article-receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch and movable with continuous motion along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, a carriage mounted on said support for back and forth movement parallel to said path from a loading position to an unloading position, a series of side-by-side carriers on said carriage, at least two side-by-side holders supported on each carrier and disposed in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least two of said carriers for movement relative to said carriage and lengthwise of said path between closely spaced and spread positions, means mounting said holders for movement relative to said carriers and lengthwise of said path between closely spaced and spread positions, said holders being spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said buckets when the holders and said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, means for loading stacks of articles into said holders when the latter and said carriers are in said closely spaced positions and when said carriage is in said loading position, means operable after loading of the holders to shift the latter on said carriers and to shift said two carriers on said carriage to said spread positions with the pitch of the holders matching the pitch of the buckets when boTh the holders and the carriers are in their spread positions, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift said carriage and said holders toward said unloading position at a speed which matches the speed of the buckets, and mechanism movable with said carriage and operable after the pitch and speed of the holders have been matched with the pitch and the speed of the buckets to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets.
 28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 in which said shifting means shift one of said movable carriers through a predetermined distance on said carriage and shift the other movable carrier through a whole multiple of said predetermined distance and further than said distance.
 29. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 in which one of the carriers remains stationary relative to said carriage.
 30. Apparatus as defined in claim 28 in which said shifting means shift the holders of each pair through equal distances but in opposite directions relative to their respective carriers.
 31. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 in which said shifting means comprise a cam which remains stationed at a fixed location along said path as said carriage is moved back and forth between said positions, said shifting means further comprising mechanism movable with said carrier between said positions and connected to be actuated by said cam.
 32. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring stacks of articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article-receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch and movable with continuous motion along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, a carriage mounted on said support for back and forth movement parallel to said path from a loading position to an unloading position, a series of side-by-side carriers on said carriage, at least two side-by-side holders supported on each carrier and disposed in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least two of said carriers for movement relative to said carriage and lengthwise of said path between closely spaced and spread positions, said holders being spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said buckets when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, means for loading stacks of articles into said holders when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions and when said carriage is in said loading position, means operable after loading of the holders to shift said two carriers on said carriage to said spread positions with the pitch of the holders matching the pitch of the buckets when the carriers are in their spread positions, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift said carriage and said holders toward said unloading position at a speed which matches the speed of the buckets, and mechanism movable with said carriage and operable after the pitch and speed of the holders have been matched with the pitch and the speed of the buckets to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets.
 33. Apparatus as defined in claim 32 in which said shifting means comprise a cam which remains stationed at a fixed location along said path as said carriage is moved back and forth between said positions, said shifting means further comprising mechanism movable with said carrier between said positions and connected to be actuated by said cam.
 34. Apparatus as defined in claim 33 in which said mechanism for shifting the stacks from the holders to the buckets is connected to be actuated by a second cam which remains stationed at a fixed location along said path as said carriage is moved back and forth between said positions.
 35. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring stacks of articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article-receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch, a series of side-by-side carriers disposed in end-to-end relation on said Support, at least two holders supported on each carrier with the holders being disposed in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least two of said carriers for movement relative to said support and lengthwise of said conveyor between closely spaced and spread positions, adjacent holders on adjacent carriers being spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said buckets when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, means for unloading stacks of articles in said holders when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift the carriers on said support to said spread positions with the pitch of the holders matching the pitch of the buckets when the carriers are in said spread positions, and means operable thereafter to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets. 